The Mindset for a Healthy Life
More important than any exercise or diet tip, having a healthy mindset when it comes to fitness will be a more lasting recipe for success. I’ve been interested in fitness for a long time, and have tried different diets, routines, and goals and have found a few important tips that will keep you coming back for more.
Tip number 1: Be kind to yourself. You’ll sometimes not live up to your own expectations and skip a workout or eat something you know is bad for you. Forgive yourself and move on. You are in a constant struggle with your lizard brain that wants to store and conserve as much energy as possible. When you do choose to exercise or eat something that’s good for you, you’re fighting millions of years of evolution. If evolution wins once in awhile, forgive yourself and gear up for the next battle.
Tip number 2: Fitness is a marathon, not a sprint. Don’t get fixated on immediate results. Spending hours in front of a mirror is not normal behavior for the well adjusted. Be confident that you look the way you’re supposed to look and don’t try for quick fixes in a run up to a special event. Instead, try for a constant steady approach as a permanent lifestyle.
Tip number 4: Seek maximum results for minimum effort. Remember the Insanity sales pitch? You’ll be in great shape by strenuously working out 90 minutes a day! How many people do you know bit off on that and stuck with it? While you may not be as cut as somebody who’s done that, you can be surprisingly healthy with much less strain and much less time. With diet, instead of specialized, expensive plans, try just incorporating small changes and feel good when you make healthy choices.
Tip number 3: Don’t leave it all at the gym. We’re inspired by movies with their workout montages, and want to go workout until we’re a broken heap on the floor. If you really enjoy that feeling, and are safely achieving it, more power to you. But to most people who get a sudden inspiration to workout, this is a recipe for super sore muscles which will lead to excuses to not exercise for a long time. Instead, when you want to do one last set of burpees (or whatever), stop your session and let that urge to exercise burn inside you until the next time. I find walking out before I’m burnt out inspires the next workout.
Tip number 4: Clarify why you’re doing it. I’ll be honest; I started working out to be interesting to the ladies. It never worked. But then somebody close to me fell ill due to their lifestyle and passed away. Then, I started noticing people my age struggling with stairs and basic movements. And I remember my grandfather, who lived to 94 and died in his sleep. The day before he had been chopping wood. For me, I want to be vibrant and out of the hospital as long as possible. Being fit offers me the best chance of that.
Tip number 5: Realize how amazing your body is. Even if you don’t feel body positive, you are in possession of an impressive piece of machinery. There is nothing like it. It responds to the stressors you put it under by becoming stronger. Want more lung capacity? Do more cardio. Want stronger muscles? Lift heavier weights. Want to be more alert? Eat better foods. Does a Ferrari have an option where it gets better by being under more stress? Nope. Enjoy finding out how your body responds to healthy inputs.
Tip number 6: It’s got to be fun. Oprah Winfrey has amazing willpower, yet her fitness levels rise and fall. She willed her way to complete a marathon, but was unable to maintain that level very long. Even with her super willpower, she couldn’t keep it up. So how can some jerk like me find it easy? It’s because I enjoy working out. When I jog, I pretend I’m in a race or delivering secret documents or daydreaming. I couldn’t do it if it wasn’t fun. You have to find something to make it fun.
Tip number 7: Do your own research. I used to believe Pop Tarts were a ‘part of a healthy breakfast’ as I ate several of them in one sitting. The food pyramid (I know it’s a plate now) was designed by lobbyists, and breakfast is not really that important. All these common sense ideas helped make us fat, so go on an adventure of self-exploration about what options work for you.
Fitness doesn’t have to be some Spartan lifestyle full of only chicken breasts, broccoli and bench presses. Start enjoying being active; enjoy a short walk around the block. On that walk, smell the air, listen to the birds or freeway noise and be thankful you can get out there, and rest assured, you’re doing the right thing.
